I _know_ I knew this...

Point granted.

I've had all kinds of problems with this kind of interchange.

• Many of the older, good quality Dexter, the keyway is too thin to accept a KW blank.
• Dexter is TFC 216, SPA 156 (from memory), Kw is 248 / 155 so you'll have nightmares trying to pin it up.

It is possible to make ONE key work, but the duplicates may have different spacing, and the original key may be pinned so the pins touch the slopes, not the cut bottoms.

Should be a good challenge, though. I bet it works fine for you. I'm just being a worry wart.

As I say, the cuts on the key do seem to be in the right positions for the pins on this lock, despite it being a KW blank. (Actually, I've seen three copies of the key on three different blanks, but one is an original KW.) If the other lock is wrong... I'm not sure that's my problem; I haven't been asked to work on that one. (Yeah, I know.)

Duplication, per se, *shouldn't* change spacing unless the machine's out of alignment. Cutting a new original might.

What I'd more worried about in this case, come to think of it, is the question of whether different blanks are riding differently in the keyway -- ie, if one is resting firmly on the bottom while others are resting on the side wards. That's the sort of thing which will make some blanks work while "interchangable" blanks fail. I think I checked that... I hope...

When I pin Dexters or others and Kwiksets I always use a Kwikset blank after having checked the blanks in the Dexters or others to see if they fit, Jet works well.

I stay away from number 1 Kwikset cuts when keying because it never fails that a customer wants that other lock keyed to the same key that may take a .156 or .165 bottom pin where the Kwikset is .171.

I always widen the spacing on the blank between the lower and upper ramp and use pointed lab .003 pins.

I pinned up a Kwikset, Old Dexter, New Dexter, Master, Weiser, and Harloc house once this way with no problem.

That could be a total nightmare, or it could be an easy peasy. May be one of the moments you have to remove a bit of metal, and open up some tolerances. Yah, I know, reduced security.

"Anyone can design a bridge that is safe or cheap. It takes an engineer to design a bridge that's both safe and cheap." It's all about knowing how far you can go before running into the real limits.

The whole setup was bad but the customer was hard headed. Didn't want new cheap locks.

"Stormin Mormon" <cayoung61-&spamblock*-@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:8uy%g.9401$ snipped-for-privacy@twister.nyroc.rr.com...

I admit, in the beginning, I use to (for lack of a better word) smith on the keys to get the customers desired result. but later I learned different, if they weren't willing let the job be done correctly ? I just collected my ticket and referred the customer back to the yellow pages. two wrongs don't make a right...

my2¢

And isn't it the case tht the cheapest customers are the biggest pain? I got a call a couple minutes ago. Fellow has bought his own deadbolts and wants me to install them. I explained that I had three calls on the books for today, and I could call him back when my afternoon freed up. Nevermind.... click.

Actually, it's wise to walk away from the calls where folks want you do things either ineffective, or unethical.

The nightmare I saw, was a MK on a building with all recently installed glass doors. the cylindes (Amarlite?) were drilled to a max of 6 depth, and the MK system depth went down to 9. So, if the two stores next to each other were codes 77777 and 99999, they would work each others doors, cause the pin holes only went down to 6. I mentioned this to the manager, and he went and tried the couple keys I suggested. He came back and said with a sheepish look, that he hopes they never notice. That's one of the very few times I've fired a customer.

My standard observation: "The customer is not always right. The customer is always the one with the money. Sometimes being right is more important than getting the money."

LOL.. yep.. called to a $200k house, builder lost the keys and sold the house, lady living with garage door remote.. IF he paid $7 each for the door knobs I would REALLY be surprised. AND, and STILL waiting for my money.. grrr.

--Shiva--

Around here, that might get you a condo. Maybe.

understand.. talk to a relative in CA.. my house is valued at $80k here, its OLD.. and in CA she has 600 feet less and is valued at a half mil all depends .. location location location..

but, wages here are GOOD at $8 an hour..if you can get full time.

--Shiva--

"Stormin Mormon" <cayoung61-&spamblock*-@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:oUJ%g.9602$ snipped-for-privacy@twister.nyroc.rr.com...

customers sometimes tell us that when we tell them we can be there within the hour. (minimal driving time)

lack of planing on their part doesn't nessessarly make it an emergancy on ours :-). (a quote I've always been fond of)

g'day

my point exactly ! but the way I see it, being right ALL the time is more important than getting the money...

g'day Joe

if a builder calls us ? they are told they have to pay on the spot when the work is completed.

learned that the hard way too :-)

I got a loop hole, will go after the house with mechanics lien, the OWNER signed the ticket..LOL

--Shiva--

I am no lawyer but I wouldn't think a "mechanics lien" would get the house. maybe the locks ?